I'm following along with Tractate Yevamot (or Yevamos). It's all about the rules for levirate marriage, and the Talmud spends pages upon pages on the most improbable permutations and combinations -- marriages, widows, sisters, idolators, divorcées... it's impossibly complicated. I am keeping up with the page but I can't pretend to be understanding a word of it -- except for the bit a few pages back when it's clear that Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel are wrestling with the timeless question about how to be unified as a community in the face of diverse views and practices. If you're following along, kindly chime in about it.
Today's episode is devoted to the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks. It was produced before the announcement of a ceasefire deal, yet remains current & relevant.
Please listen, and #bringthemhome.
SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET (4-7 PT)
This week's portion is a beautiful poem, containing the Covenant between God and the people of Israel. But given the breaking news that Hamas may actually have agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, I will devote my remarks to that.
One hopes it is true; if so, it makes this week's additional reading, from II Samuel 22, even more relevant: David's song of praise to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies.
"18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support."
So much to focus on this week -- and much breaking news. A peace deal in the Middle East, perhaps? Eric Adams dropping out of the mayor's race? And a looming shutdown as Democrats push their demands beyond absurdity.
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